President Trump
Donald John TrumpBiden hits Trump’s ‘law and order’ message: he’s trying to ‘scare the devil’ out of people Pelosi hits Barr after testimony: ‘It was like a blot’ and Trump Schumer’s ‘henchman’: Trump should want COVID-19 deal to aid Republican election opportunities MORE He said Wednesday that his recent decision to replace an Obama administration rule targeting racial discrimination in housing would increase suburban housing prices and reduce crime.
In a pair of tweets Wednesday, Trump said his efforts to prevent low-income housing from being built in wealthy areas would prevent suburbanites from being “harassed or financially disadvantaged” by a rule aimed at expanding access to housing for minorities. .
“I am pleased to inform all people living their suburban lifestyle dream that they will no longer feel upset or financially disadvantaged by the construction of low-income housing in their neighborhood,” Trump tweeted.
I am pleased to inform all people living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream that they will no longer feel upset or financially disadvantaged by building low-income housing in their neighborhood …
– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2020
“Your home prices will go up according to the market, and crime will go down. I have rescinded the Obama-Biden AFFH rule. Enjoy!”
Trump was referring to his decision last week to repeal the 2015 Obama Administration Affirmatively Promoting Fair Housing (AFFH) rule. That rule, written under the Fair Housing Act, required local governments to demonstrate that Federal grants for housing projects would not go to developments with zoning laws or other regulations that effectively discriminate against minorities, particularly African Americans and Hispanics.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) revoked AFFH on Thursday with a measure that gave local governments significantly more flexibility and benefit of the doubt to establish their own fair housing guidelines. While the Obama rule previously required towns to come up with plans to tackle housing discrimination, the Trump administration gutted it more than two years ago.
HUD claimed that the original rule effectively stripped local control over regulations and choked localities with onerous and unnecessary paperwork.
Trump, however, has presented the repeal as a way to “preserve” the suburbs, taking advantage of the long history of resistance to fair housing and low-income housing projects in affluent areas, generally along racist and class lines. .
Opponents of efforts to expand access to housing beyond the wealthy and white have long claimed that such projects would harm property values and increase crime. Studies have found that investing in low-income housing generally reduces or does not increase crime while reducing segregation, but can make homeowners sell cheaper when such projects are built in wealthy areas.
Trump’s claims on Wednesday are his latest attempt to appeal to suburban voters with less than 100 days until Election Day. The President has stated without foundation for months that the election of the former Vice President Joe Biden
Joe BidenBiden comes to Trump’s “law and order” message: he’s trying to “scare the devil” out of people. Biden Says Showcasing Talking Points About Kamala Harris Opportunity Cost of Congressional “Big Tech” Antitrust Obsession MORE, the supposed Democratic candidate, would bring about a total destruction of law, order, and the economy, particularly in suburban areas.
“Suburban Housewives of America should read this article,” Trump tweeted, referring to an opinion piece written in support of his repeal of the AFFH rule. “Biden will destroy your neighborhood and your American dream. I will preserve it and make it even better!”
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